Siddle ends ODI famine as Australia name XI for SCG

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Siddle ends ODI famine as Australia name XI for SCG

Peter Siddle is set to play his first one-day international since November 2010 after being named in the Australia XI to play in the opening ODI against India at the SCG. The eleven that was announced by skipper Aaron Finch on Friday (January 11), had three other specialist bowlers apart from Siddle, along with two all-rounders.

Siddle, Jhye Richardson and Jason Behrendorff are the three front-line pacers, with Stonis fitting in as fourth pace option. Nathan Lyon is the lead spinner while Australia also have the option getting a few overs from Glenn Maxwell, who will be batting as low as seven.

"For Sidds to go away and work on the skills that he's brought to the table over the last couple of years in Big Bash cricket is outstanding," Finch said. "He well and truly deserves his spot. Any tour you go on, Sidds is one of the first picked I would think for what he brings to the team and the skill set he brings.

Mentioning that Adam Zampa is unfortunate to miss out from the eleven, Finch said: "Adam's very stiff to miss out on a game tomorrow. He's performed reasonably well for us in the last little bit since he's made his comeback. It's unfortunate for him to miss but we feel those two [Nathan Lyon and Glenn Maxwell] together could play a really big part over the next six to 10 months."

Meanwhile, Finch is set to open with wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey, with Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb to follow in the batting order. Carey, who has played six ODIs and 19 T20Is for Australia, has opened in a couple of T20Is for his country while he has only batted at No. 5 or lower in ODIs.

Speaking about his opening partner, Finch said: "It's just an opportunity to see Alex play in a position he's done quite a bit in Big Bash and one-day cricket. It's a position he's performed really well with in the last couple of years. He's been shuffled around the order a bit in the last little while ... and he'll get a good opportunity up there."